Chapter 236 - Association President

# Seduce the Director

What should I do to prepare for the Moonlight Cult? That was the conclusion I reached after much deliberation.

What should I do to gain the Association's bipartisan cooperation? Obviously, I need to persuade the Director. And to do that, I first need to meet him.

Having made my decision, I didn't hesitate to put my plan into action.

And as a result.

"Hello, Director."

"...Hmm? Who is that?"

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Egostic."

"......"

In the heart of Seoul, at the Korean Association known for its ironclad security.

The Director Park Jun-ho froze when his eyes met mine after I boldly teleported into his office on the top floor.

"......"

His face turned slightly pale, as if he was screaming silently. Well, how could he have imagined suddenly coming face-to-face with a villain who invaded his office?

After remaining frozen for a moment.

He soon let out a deep sigh, turned his head back to the documents he had been looking at, and muttered to me.

"....Sigh. So, why are you here?"

"Oh? You're not very surprised. Aren't you going to call any heroes?"

While I walked toward the sofa with a mysterious smile, the Director, sitting at his desk, muttered in a voice that suddenly sounded ten years older.

"...The fact that you've already entered this place means you've broken through all of the Association's security. What's the point of doing anything now? Haa."

The Director muttered as if he had already half given up.

...Well, since I've already succeeded in getting in, anything he does would be meaningless. It's also true that I've already cut off all communication.

In other words, he gave up quickly.

...As expected of the Director. He was always quick with his judgments and actions.

"So, why are you here? Did you come to eliminate me?"

"Hahaha, no. Why would I do that? There's no need to do anything to a Director who's doing his job well."

I sat down on the sofa in front and said that with a smile.

Yes. My goal is to persuade the Director.

To do that, I need to show my cards.

In other words, I need to talk.

"...Director, I have no intention of being at odds with you. If anything, I'd say we're on the same side."

"....Hmm?"

"Let me get straight to the point."

After saying only that much, I stopped smiling and returned to a serious expression before speaking.

"The Republic of Korea is in danger."

"And to prevent that, I need your help."

"....."

He listened to my words quietly.

Yes. This is where it begins. Making the Director trust me completely. For that, I need to tell a story. There's persuasive power in storytelling.

So I needed to start from here.

"Let me tell you about myself first."

"First of all, I never wanted to become a villain."

"...?"

The Director frowned at my words as if wondering what on earth I was talking about.

Seeing his reaction, I slowly opened my mouth.

Now, let's really start talking.

***

After having a deep conversation with the Director.

"So... you actually didn't want to be a villain. Your true desire is to save the country?"

After hearing my words, the Director nodded and said that.

What I told him was that I wanted to protect the country, and I acted as a villain because there were more advantages to operating as one. I explained that I carried out the terrorist attacks to strengthen Stardus.

"Yes. I understand if you don't believe me, but..."

"No, I believe you."

"...What?"

When I was momentarily stunned by his quick answer, the Director responded with a nonchalant expression.

"...After you've told me all that, how could I not believe you? Honestly, I can tell just by looking at what you've done so far. Well, I could be wary that it might be a deception for a bigger scheme. But I can roughly tell just by the fact that you didn't harm me here."

He nodded with a solemn expression, as if he had known all along.

And at those words, I was even more stunned.

...No, how can you trust a villain so easily?

Shouldn't the Director be suspicious? What if I pretend to build trust and then immediately betray him? How can he trust me? If I double-cross him here, the situation would be hopeless.

...Well, but then again, thinking about it.

'Well, he is the Director after all.'

This guy has always been like this. He makes judgments almost without thinking, in an instant, and always acts according to those judgments. And luckily, they were usually right. That's how he became the Director.

Anyway, it's not a bad thing that he believes what I say.

While I was thinking that, the Director spoke to me in a tired voice.

"Anyway, whether you're a villain or whatever, that's not what's important. I'm more interested in that great danger you mentioned at the beginning. What is it that made you reveal your hidden identity to me?"

To his question.

I decided to answer in detail.

"Do you know about the Moonlight Cult?"

"Of course I know. How many times have those bastards caused trouble already?"

"They're trying to connect portals from another world to release monsters on Earth."

"...."

I explained in more detail from there.

How many of these monsters there would be. That the current number of heroes would be far from enough to stop them, and that the country would fall into chaos.

"The Moonlight Cult, it's them again after all. They've been quiet lately, so I thought they'd gone home to rest, but they were preparing something like this. Territorial occupation by monsters across the country..."

After just sighing like that, he soon asked me.

"So. What should we do?"

"First, we need to build defense facilities. Shelters and evacuation centers, we can build more since it only takes a few months with ability users...and so on. Firearms would be good too. They're not very effective, but they do work to some extent. There are many other things, but I'll send you materials separately and discuss them in more detail."

"I understand. Haa, I've learned too much in one day. Honestly, it's a bit dizzying, but... I was surprised to learn that the reason you committed terrorism was for Stardus. I wondered why you were committing terrorism, but I never expected that reason."

The Director had anticipated other things but not that.

To him, I subtly framed what I had done as being connected to the Association.

"Anyway, isn't Stardus becoming stronger the way for the Republic of Korea to be safe? That also raises the reputation of the Association. Isn't the Association doing well the same as the Republic of Korea doing well?"

"Hahaha! That's right. You seem to know a thing or two after talking to you?"

As expected, he immediately liked it when I touched on the Association.

While listening to the Director's theory of national peace through the Association, we had a deeper discussion.

"...But."

"Yes?"

Just then, the Director opened his mouth with a serious expression.

Then, with a slightly tense expression, he asked me.

"How do you know my real name?"

"Excuse me?"

"My real name. Park Mak-chun. No one should know that. I even deleted all the records, so how do you know it?"

"...?"

He asked something completely out of the blue with a serious face.

I was wondering what he was talking about, and then I remembered that when I went to a hotel before, I had lied while wearing a mask, claiming to be friends with the Director and dropping the name Park Mak-chun.

"Oh, that. I just happened to find out."

"..."

What. Why.

***

"Anyway, I'll be going now."

"Yes. I understand."

After having more conversations with the Director.

I prepared to leave.

...I thought it would be quite difficult to persuade the Director, so I came prepared for various situations, but it was resolved so easily that it was almost bewildering.

Anyway, all's well that ends well.

As I was about to leave.

At the last moment, the Director asked me.

"Wait... So. Is the conversation we've had so far a secret?"

"What? Oh, yes. It is. Of course from the employees, and among the heroes, please absolutely don't tell Stardus."

"I understand. Hmm...? Wait."

He nodded at my words, but then suddenly asked me as if he had just realized something.

"You're saying don't tell Stardus, but it's okay to tell other heroes?"

"Um..."

Is that how it works?

...The Director was always good at catching strange things unnecessarily.

Anyway, since we need to cooperate with Lee Seol-ah together, it doesn't matter if I tell him.

So I just said it outright.

"Ah... yes. Icicle already knows my identity anyway. Shadow Walker too... oh, come to think of it, he knows too."

"...."

At my words, he stroked his empty head and muttered, filled with a sense of betrayal.

"...Without my knowledge, all our heroes have already been involved with a villain."

"...Haha."

"....I understand. You may go now."

"Alright. Then, goodbye."

And so, leaving behind the Director who was holding his head as if dizzy, I left.

Since we agreed to meet again later, I can contact him when the plan becomes more concrete. For now, we only discussed things that need to be prepared quickly, such as increasing shelters and relaxing PMC regulations.

Listening to the Director's muttering, lamenting that he had a lot more work to do, I teleported away.

Good, I succeeded in persuading the Director.

...But somehow, with Lee Seol-ah, Shadow Walker, and now the Director, it feels strange that more and more people from the Hero Association, who should be my enemies as a villain, are learning my identity and becoming my allies. I keep wondering if this is right.

But well.

'As long as Stardus continues to be hostile to me, I don't really care about other people.'

Yes.

With that thought, I reassured myself.

...Stardus will hate me, so it doesn't matter. Probably.

***

And that night.

[For you Stardus.]

[I'm enough as the villain who makes you nervous, I don't want to make you focus on others. And you've seemed a bit down lately, so I'm worried if something happened, and I hope you smile again soon.]

"Hmm, hmm."

Stardus was lying on her bed at home, reading and rereading the letter written by Egostic.

With the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised.